Shul and Community Security is Still an Issue During Pandemic

By Zalman Myer-Smith

Among the many unknowns of 2020, one highly probable reality is that we may encounter civil unrest, not that there has been much evidence of civility, particularly towards the Jewish community.

Covid-19 has enveloped our lives and has impacted our daily lives. To add to the current turmoil, we also find ourselves enduring a tumultuous election year where so many critical issues hang in the balance. My core concern is that threats to the Jewish community have not diminished, indeed they have been fueled by recent events.

Our law enforcement partners remind us that before the pandemic started (which does seem a lifetime ago) flagrant antisemitism was at an all-time high. Whether it was street assaults, graffiti, or shooting attacks in Pittsburgh, Poway, Monsey and New Jersey, it was hunting season on Jewish community property and persons.

America truly faces the same threats that fellow Jewish communities have encountered in Europe, South Africa, and Israel for so many decades. The difference is they have proven and highly effective systems and organizations in place to deter, detect, delay, and defend.

Even during the pandemic, those who wish to do us harm were able to find time to blame Jews for Covid. Online attacks have steadily increased and information being shared to us by law enforcement and others indicate the inevitability of further attacks in the future, r’l.

Civil disturbances are becoming more commonplace and currently law enforcement agencies are preparing and bracing for ongoing demonstrations and ensuing dangerous behavior.

Those overseeing community security are sadly used to viewing a frustrating pattern that is normal human nature. After a school shooting, attack on a shul, or similar heinous activity, requests for security, training, and consulting go through the roof. Then weeks later, as time passes, the desire for real security wanes and we go back to daily normal apathy.

If a Chabad site, or indeed any Jewish site, is truly fully operational and offering the gamut of Jewish spiritual and social services, it must function with security as a critical part of those operations. Indeed, I would contend it is malpractice to not have safety and security protocols and responses in place.

Commercial security firms vying for expensive security contracts are coming out of the woodwork and now we have to be able to discern between real vs. fake security. This begs the question – Is it appropriate to “outsource” security or is community security a collective responsibility in which we are all stakeholders? I vehemently hold that the latter applies to each and every one of us.

Security is a blend of systems, protocols, and tools. As an example. concealed carry weapons are not the sole panacea to effective responses. The reality is that every shul or school member is a responder; they just need to be given trained skills. Responses are not for an elite few but is a right for everyone who plays a part in our communities, be they men, women, or children.

Security is not an option or an elective reality. It’s an integral part of operations in shlichus. Lest we forget the tragedy of the kedoshim in Mumbai, Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg HYD. This was an awful moment and left an indelible stain on our memories, but have we learned from that tragedy?

There is a continual sakana before us and many times we do not do what we must do. This is not scaremongering, but as community leaders, rabbis, rebbetzins, teachers, and parents, it is incumbent upon us to do more to protect ourselves and our communities. This involves awareness, communication, law enforcement liaison, training, and hardening our facilities.

As we gingerly begin to offer socially distanced community events and look hopefully towards a full resumption of operations, we must ensure that security is an essential part of that process and planning to mitigate the efforts of those who wish to do us harm.

The cost is negligible. Grants are available and it’s been proven countless times that no to low-cost items, protocols, and activities can be installed in a very short period of time. Indeed, within 36 hours, your site could see a myriad of effective life protecting upgrades.

Just as we don’t know the outcome of the election or the end to this terrible pandemic, we can take control of how we protect ourselves, our families, and our communities. Our security is not seasonal like an election period, it’s not an elective option to pick and choose. It is now an essential ingredient to ensure safe, secure, and successful activities in our spiritual, professional, and personal lives.

CSO guidelines for security during civil unrest can be found here

Never has the saying of our sages Kol Yisroel areivim zeh lazeh meant so much. May we learn from each other, rather than be taught lessons from those who wish to do us harm, G-d forbid.

Zalman Myer-Smith is the Executive Director of www.thecso.org, a Florida based volunteer Community Security Organization liaising, training, and working with law enforcement agencies and serving Jewish community synagogues, schools, and centers. Zalman is also the Director of Security for both Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami and for Chabad of Florida.